If you are going to be working for the campaign election day, it is much simplier to vote absentee beforehand and not worry about having to vote. Every vote counts, absentee or in person and it is one thing less to worry about election day.
This way, you can spend the entire election day “tucking it” to the Mitt Romney-Kerry Healey-Reed Hillman team. Don’t take any time away from your election day effort.
Vote right in your city or town hall in advance
The only requirement is that you “think” you’re going to be out of town that day. Walk into city hall or town hall, and ask for an absentee ballot right there. You can fill in the paperwork, vote it right there, return it right there to the clerk, and know your vote will be counted.
Why take anytime off from your GOTV activity? Trust me, you’ll feel better knowing you vote is already in ballot box. Let the Kerry Healey people take time off from election day.
I’ve already arranged to have Nov. 6 and 7 off from work. if only I knew what to do with that time. I figure I can surely be of some use, but I haven’t gotten any directives from the powers that be…
There is plenty to do. I’m sure you’ll get connected to the GOTV operation.
They’re probably blasting out emails with stuff to do at a frenetic pace right now, http://www.devalpatrick.com/volunteer.cfm
Yeah I’m hooked in with the locals but haven’t gotten any emails about election day, yet. Perhaps everyone is too focused on the 12 days until then. 🙂
There’s a field coordinators meeting this weekend. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from your coordinator soon after. 🙂
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Great post. We have very good poll coverage, so I’ll be voting in the Great Hall on election day. Just my appearance is enough to annoy a certain voting bloc in my town, so I like to make a good show of it. 😛
…and that’s all i wanted to say!
Although I appreciate Renaissance Man’s enthusiasm for making sure the GOTV effort goes well on election day for Deval Patrick, I want to point out to people that in Massachusetts registered voters can only get an absentee balloe if they are going to be unable to vote at the polls on election day due to: (1) absence from the city or town during normal polling hours; (2) physical disability preventing the voter from going to the pollling place; or (3) religious belief. There are groups calling for the removal of this restriction, but it has not happened yet. I also want to point out, as the application for an absentee ballot says: “Illegal absentee voting, including making a false application, is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison.” I also want to point out that the Deval Patrick campaign has been about doing the right thing.
Hey, electoral politics IS my religion. Wanna take me to court? Seriously, folks working on campaigns do this all the time and it’s no problem. The mere POSSIBILITY of not being able to get to the poll is enough of a reason for absentee voting. Do what works for you, and don’t worry. I know folks who have been doing this for ages with no hassles. And why not? As long as you don’t try to do it twice, your fine. I have never, EVER seen an absentee ballot challenged on the grounds “TheOpenSociety” cites. Is he saying he wants to identify and challenge all the campaign workers who’ve been doing this since time immemorial? It might be usefull, since the restrictions as written would probably be knocked out of the park by the current MSC.
I myself have never cast an absentee ballot. I would never give up the fun of milling around and gossiping outside my local high school 😉
I genuinely enjoy the act of voting, at a polling place, on Election Day. This is why I’ve never cast an absentee ballot and I never will unless I cannot possibly get to the polls.
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On Primary Day, I worked outside of a polling station for DP and TM. I took 10 minutes off to go and vote. I’ll do the same this time. 10 minutes without me won’t kill the campaign.
My mother-in-law is moving from Quincy to Brookline on, believe it or not, November 6th. Does anyone know what she needs to do to vote?
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She can vote absentee in Quincy, because she won’t be in Quincy on election day. There’s a window of time (I forget how long exactly) where you can vote at your previous address after you move. I’m sure 1 day falls within that window.
She can also hike up to Quincy and vote at her polling place on election day.
.008 is right on….a lot depends on who your election Commish is, whether they are a go by the booker-like here in Worc.
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Remember absentees have to be handled manually by the local election office and in the smaller towns that may be only one person..wearing many hats….the fines thing is relatively new, just as you must verify your identity as a new voter, on an application.
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If, and I wouldn’t, (as a former asst. election commish in Worc.)you do absentee…pleeeeese don’t wait ’til the day before to go to city or town hall….go early….it’s going to be counted the same way.
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Oh and one more thing, the absentee ballots ALL have to be inputed into the machines, ON election day by poll workers….let’s give them a break, it’s a very, very long 16 hours for most of them…..and if the turnout is as big or bigger than primary day…and it should be….the poll wardens will more than have there hands full with everything else they must do..
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Please be as kind as you can…vote at 7am and then GOTV..that’s what I do…
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Barb in Worc.
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Ok, Barb – “step away from the soap box….”